Romania could exit recession in April this year, if the positive trend recorded in the fourth quarter of the year will continue, said Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc (in picture).

Fewer Romanian companies suspended their activity in January this year compared to the same month in 2010, which could be one of the signs of incipient economic revival. The number of companies that stopped activity went down by 55.7 percent, to around 2,600, compared to the same month last year, according to the National Trade Registry (ONRC).

French retailer Cora, which is currently working on its own shopping center in Constanta, plans to start works on two new such projects in Brasov and Bacau. The invetsment in the Brasov mall will reach around EUR 100 million.

Irish developer Caelum Development has received the building permits for the Parklake Plaza shopping center, which should be built on the premises of the former Spartac sports base in the Titan area of Bucharest. Construction works on the mall are expected to start in July this year, according to Caelum.

Shopping center City Mall in Bucharest, currently insolvent, is up for sale for EUR 33 million, according to Casa de Insolventa Transilvania, the judiciary liquidator. Victoria Holding, the owner of the mall, has a debt of around EUR 73 million. The shopping center filed for insolvency in November last year. Australian investment fund APN UKA bought the shopping center in 2006 for EUR 103.5 million.

Romanian online IT&C retailer eMAG.ro posted sales of EUR 102 million last year, an increase of 60 percent on the previous year, the company has announced. It plans to further grow its sales to EUR 150 million this year.

Rompetrol Rafinare, part of the Rompetrol Group, posted a loss of USD 193 million last year, 41 percent higher than the loss reported the year before. Its turnover managed to increase, however, by 12 percent, to USD 3.5 billion.

ING has agreed to sell the majority of its ING Real Estate Investment Management business (ING REIM) in two separate transactions for a combined price of approximately USD 1 billion to CB Richard Ellis Group. Both ING REIM and CBRE are present on the Romanian market. ING REIM is present in Romania and owns the Felicia Shopping Center in Iasi. CBRE took over local real estate agency Eurisko in 2008.

Aluminium producer Alro posted a preliminary net profit of USD 50.4 million last year, almost double on the previous year, the company has announced. Its turnover was of USD 570 million, up on the EUR 334 million posted the year before. The company paid a profit tax of EUR 7.9 million, while its other taxes amounted to EUR 19 million. RON 80 million.

Information management and data security provider Star Storage grew its sales by 50 percent in Romania last year compared to 2009, to EUR 20 million, the company has announced. It plans to further grow its turnover by 25 percent this year.

Romania could exit recession in April this year, if the positive trend recorded in the fourth quarter of the year will continue, said Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc (in picture).

Fewer Romanian companies suspended their activity in January this year compared to the same month in 2010, which could be one of the signs of incipient economic revival. The number of companies that stopped activity went down by 55.7 percent, to around 2,600, compared to the same month last year, according to the National Trade Registry (ONRC).

French retailer Cora, which is currently working on its own shopping center in Constanta, plans to start works on two new such projects in Brasov and Bacau. The invetsment in the Brasov mall will reach around EUR 100 million.

Irish developer Caelum Development has received the building permits for the Parklake Plaza shopping center, which should be built on the premises of the former Spartac sports base in the Titan area of Bucharest. Construction works on the mall are expected to start in July this year, according to Caelum.

Shopping center City Mall in Bucharest, currently insolvent, is up for sale for EUR 33 million, according to Casa de Insolventa Transilvania, the judiciary liquidator. Victoria Holding, the owner of the mall, has a debt of around EUR 73 million. The shopping center filed for insolvency in November last year. Australian investment fund APN UKA bought the shopping center in 2006 for EUR 103.5 million.

Romanian online IT&C retailer eMAG.ro posted sales of EUR 102 million last year, an increase of 60 percent on the previous year, the company has announced. It plans to further grow its sales to EUR 150 million this year.

Rompetrol Rafinare, part of the Rompetrol Group, posted a loss of USD 193 million last year, 41 percent higher than the loss reported the year before. Its turnover managed to increase, however, by 12 percent, to USD 3.5 billion.

ING has agreed to sell the majority of its ING Real Estate Investment Management business (ING REIM) in two separate transactions for a combined price of approximately USD 1 billion to CB Richard Ellis Group. Both ING REIM and CBRE are present on the Romanian market. ING REIM is present in Romania and owns the Felicia Shopping Center in Iasi. CBRE took over local real estate agency Eurisko in 2008.

Aluminium producer Alro posted a preliminary net profit of USD 50.4 million last year, almost double on the previous year, the company has announced. Its turnover was of USD 570 million, up on the EUR 334 million posted the year before. The company paid a profit tax of EUR 7.9 million, while its other taxes amounted to EUR 19 million. RON 80 million.

Information management and data security provider Star Storage grew its sales by 50 percent in Romania last year compared to 2009, to EUR 20 million, the company has announced. It plans to further grow its turnover by 25 percent this year.